A long-missing piece of East Austin’s trail network is finally back in place. A new 164-foot pedestrian bridge and a $28.5 million creek-stabilization project at Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metropolitan Park have reopened a critical east-west connection in East Austin this week. The work replaces a crossing lost to the severe 2015 floods and reshapes a stretch of Country Club Creek with rocks, a restored natural bottom, and native plantings intended to slow erosion.
According to the City of Austin, the work, celebrated at a Feb. 6 ribbon-cutting, cost $28.5 million and included three grade-control structures, a naturalized creek bottom, rocks, and native grasses along the banks. The city said crews planted more than 40 trees as part of the project and contributed $500,000 to a fund for future park plantings to replace losses from years of erosion.
Community Impact reported the pedestrian span measures roughly 164 feet, crosses one of the new grade-control structures, and was engineered to withstand future flood events. The outlet also notes the project drew an $8.45 million FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant, while the bulk of the funding came from Austin's 2018 bonds and drainage utility charges. Mayor Kirk Watson called the nearly $30 million effort “massive” and “transformative” for the east side.
Flooding, lost connections, and years of work
The crossing had been out of service since the 2015 Memorial Day floods, when heavy flows undermined the bridge's footings and the span later collapsed, forcing walkers and cyclists onto long detours, according to the Austin Monitor. That history made the reopening a major point of emphasis for nearby residents and officials who had pushed for a permanent stabilization solution rather than another temporary fix.
Funding, praise, and recognition
Community Impact said Austin Watershed Protection Director Jorge Morales noted the project came in under budget, and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett praised the new connection for linking ballfields, the Roy G. Guerrero trail, and the Town Lake network for recreation and commuting. Officials also pointed to the project's statewide recognition: it earned the Texas chapter of the American Public Works Association's 2025 Project of the Year award in the $25M–$75M environmental category.
What residents can expect
Project documents from Austin Watershed Protection note construction began Aug. 22, 2022, and state that the bridge, trail, and park areas previously closed for the work are now open to the public, with temporary fencing remaining around a few spots for safety. For East Austin users, the finished project restores a route for walkers, cyclists, and ballplayers and reduces a long-running erosion risk along Country Club Creek.
